“During recent years it has come to be more widely recognized in our Universities and Colleges that the course of study for students of Chemistry, no matter what special branch of the subject they may intend to devote themselves later, cannot be regarded as complete or satisfactory unless it include both systematic and practical Physical Chemistry.”¹

CHM 330 is a course to help students understand the underlying physics of chemical systems. CHM 330 introduces thermodynamic laws, their relationship to statistical mechanics, and how these together can be used express and predict the equilibrium state of a chemical system. Kinetics and transport processes are then presented as ways to describe how system approach the equilibrium state. Students will also be introduced to the mathematical treatment of atomic and molecular structure via quantum mechanics and the strong relationships between structure and spectroscopy. Students are expected to already have a foundation in chemistry (CHM 111/112), as well as single variable differential and integral calculus (MAT 191/192). Upon completion of this course, a student will demonstrate competence in each of the following areas:

• utilizing physical reasoning to derive and solve mathematical representations of chemical phenomena,
• utilizing available resources and tools to understand and solve physical chemistry problems,
• understanding chemical concepts from the lecture by successfully applying these concepts on homework and tests.

Portions from 11 chapters of the text will be covered during the semester. Additional mathematical and supporting material will be provided by the instructor as applicable. The lecture time will be used to expound on and augment the texts, discuss problem solving strategies, and to learn how to effectively utilize the provided computational tools. Students are responsible for all material covered in class, material from the textual sections denoted by the instructor and other materials as indicated by the instructor. Exams will consist of four in-class 50 minute exams and a final exam. There will be regularly assigned online homework and four self-guided capsules.

Honor Code: All students in CHM 330 are expected to adhere to the Mercer University Honor Code. Any suspected violations will be reported to the Honor Council for further investigation.

Attendance: Attendance will be taken the first 10 class periods. Attendance will not be taken after that date. Students are expected to be in class and are accountable for all material covered in class as well as any announcements made during the lecture period. If you know that you are going to miss class, please send me a text or e-mail to let me know about your absence.

Missed Exams: Anyone missing an exam for any reason (personal illness, death in the immediate family, or other emergency) must notify Dr. Pounds in advance. The absence will be considered unexcused otherwise. Make-up exams will be individually scheduled.

Weighted Exam Grades: The lowest test grade of the 50 minute in-class exams will be multiplied by 0.5 and the highest test grade of the 50 minute in-class exams be multiplied by 1.5 in the final class average.

Partial Credit: Partial credit will not be awarded on any exam or homework unless individuals show their work and clearly delineate how they arrived at their answers.

Re-grading Policy: If a student suspects that an error was made in the grading of a submitted work, they may return the paper for re-grading with the understanding that the entire work will be re-graded and not only the portion in question.

Homework: Students are encouraged to work together on homework assignments. Each person, however, must turn in their own assignments in their own words.

Capsules: There will be four independent study Capsules submitted for grading. These capsules will deal with using computational tools for modeling chemical processes. The dates for each of the capsules will be determined when they are assigned. The materials for the capsules will be submitted via CANVAS.

Online Homework: Several problems from each chapter will be assigned in the Mastering Chemistry online homework system. Students will be electronically notified of the due date for each of these assignments.

Electronic Submission of Materials: “Students bear sole responsibility for ensuring that papers or assignments submitted electronically to a professor are received in a timely manner and in the electronic format(s) specified by the professor. Students are therefore obliged to have their e-mail client issue a receipt verifying that the document has been received. Students are also strongly advised to retain a copy of the dated submission on a separate disk. Faculty members are encouraged, but not required, to acknowledge receipt of the assignment.”

Class Web Page: I maintain a web page for the class outside of the University CANVAS system which I regularly update with material for the class. The address is http://theochem.mercer.edu/chm330. I will notify the class whenever changes are made to this web page.

E-mail Listserve: I communicate heavily with the class (and encourage you to do the same) via an e-mail listserve which I maintain myself. Please subscribe to the listserve by going to

http://theochem.mercer.edu/mailman/listinfo/chm330

and filling out the required fields. Once subscribed, you may send e-mail to the class by using the e-mail address chm330@theochem.mercer.edu I personally moderate all requests to limit e-mail spam.

Course Evaluations: In an ongoing effort to improve the quality of instruction, each student enrolled in this course is required to complete an end-of-semester course evaluation. Details about the evaluation process will provided at the end of the term.

Final Exam: The final exam is scheduled for Thursday, December 15th at 9 a.m.

University Compliance Statements

Accommodations and ADA/504: “Students in need of accommodation due to a disability should contact the Access and Accommodation Office to complete the verification process to become approved for services. In order to receive accommodations, each term, students will request accommodation and faculty notification forms through the Access Office online system Accommodate. Students are strongly encouraged to schedule a meeting with each professor in a timely manner to discuss arrangements. Accommodations are not retroactive in nature. Note - Disability accommodations or status are not reflected on academic transcripts. Students with a history of a disability, perceived as having a disability or with a current disability who do not wish to use academic accommodations are also strongly encouraged to complete the verification process with the Access Office. Students must request accommodations in a timely manner to receive accommodations in a timely manner.

The Access Coordinator for Macon Campus is

Katie Johnson, Director and ADA/504 Coordinator.
Phone: (478) 301-2778; email: johnson_kc@mercer.edu
Website:
https://access.mercer.edu

Please note the following additional information from the Access and Accommodation Office (AAO):

In compliance with Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (504) and the Americans with Disabilities Act Amendments Act of 2009 (ADAAA), “otherwise qualified” students with disabilities are protected from discrimination and may be entitled to “reasonable accommodations” intended to ensure equal access to all courses, programs, and services without a change of curriculum. Examples of accommodations include but are not limited to: testing accommodations, providing alternative format textbooks and tests, note-taking support, and modifications of policies or procedures. Equal Access may require moving a class or event to a physically accessible room, making websites accessible to screen readers, providing sign language interpreters, and captioning videos. All students requesting to be recognized as a student with a disability or requiring accommodations must first self-identify by requesting accommodations with the designated Access Coordinator for their campus or program and complete the verification process.”

Mental Health and Wellness: “Mercer University faculty and staff recognize that mental health concerns can impact academic performance and interfere with daily life activities. Because stress is a normal part of the college experience, learning to manage stress effectively is crucial to your well-being and overall success. Please notify your faculty member or academic advisor for academic assistance, as needed. CAPS can also provide support if you are feeling anxious, overwhelmed, depressed, lost or are struggling with personal issues. Please call or visit the Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) website at https://counseling.mercer.edu/ for more information. These services are free and confidential, and support non-traditional, graduate, and undergraduate students. Students may access CAPS at the location of their academic program: MACON – Counseling Center (formerly the Honors House), 478-301-2862; ATLANTA – 215 Sheffield Student Center, 678-547-6060. Students at Regional Academic Center and other locations may obtain assistance in finding local services by contacting the CAPS Office nearest them. We also encourage students to call or text 988 to reach the National Suicide & Crisis Line if needed.”

Electronic Submission of Materials: “Students bear sole responsibility for ensuring that papers or assignments submitted electronically to a professor are received in a timely manner and in the electronic format(s) specified by the professor. Students are therefore obliged to have their e-mail client issue a receipt verifying that the document has been received. Students are also strongly advised to retain a copy of the dated submission on a separate disk. Faculty members are encouraged, but not required, to acknowledge receipt of the assignment.”

Cell Phones and Pagers: “Out of courtesy for all those participating in the learning experience, all cell phones and pagers must be turned off, or placed on vibrate, before entering any classroom, lab, or formal academic or performance event.”

FERPA and Assessment: The College of Liberal Arts is keenly interested in assuring the quality and integrity of its general education program. Every semester, randomly selected samples of student work from general education courses will be independently and objectively assessed. No personally identifiable information about any student will be used for the purposes of this assessment, and assessment results will have no bearing whatsoever on student grades.

${}^1$ I reserve the right to modify this schedule as situations warrant.